Outlet box



March 18' 1924, 1,487,117

J. J. MERRILL OUTLET BOX Filed April L2, 1922 fnve viof",

JOHN J. MERRILL, OI IPSWICH, AGHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY KESNE ASSIGNHENTS,

TO ELECTRIC OUTLET COMPANY, INC,

NEW YORK.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF OUTLET BOX.

Application filed April 12, 1922. Serial No. 552,020.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Join: J. MERRILL, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Ipswich, in the county of Essex and the State ofMassachusetts, have invented an improvementin OJltletBoxe's, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of outlets for electric conductorsknown as outlet boxes, and more particularly to certain improvements on,.or modifications of the type of outlet shown in my pending applicationSerial No. 500,525, said outlet being more especially designed for whatis known as old work construction, or installation in a lath and plasterwall which has already been erected.

Prior to my invention a type of Wall fixture has been designed andplaced on the market, known as the Elexit fitting, in which a base plateis mounted-on the wall and is constructed and arranged so that a similarplate, which is directl attached to the fixture ma be connects, to thewall plate by a simp e inward and lateral motion, which, at the sametime makes the electrical connection, thereby permitting the electriclight fixture to be readily removed and replaced.

As all the electrical connections with the main conductors are locatedbetween the inner and outer walls of the building, in the rear of thiswall plate, the underwriters regulations require that these connectionsbe enclosed in a fire proof, or metal chamber.

It is also necessarythat the wall plate be rigidly supported, not onlyto provide a rigid support for the fixture, but also to enable thefixture to be removed and replaced as fneq uentl as may be desired,withoutdisturblng t e wall late.

This fitting is so esi ed that the wall plate must be set with its backside flush with. the plaster surface, and, while this result may beaccom lished, and the plate rigidly supported without difiicult when theinstallation is made before the ath and plaster wall is erected, so faras I am aware no means for supporting the wall plate has been produced,prior to my invention which is entirely satisfactory for old worconstruction, for example;-the construction disclosed in my said pendingapplication is not suitable for the purpose, for the reason providedwhich will support the same in the desired relation to the surface ofthe plaster. When installations are made in lath and plasterconstruction. in some'instances the plaster is found to be in such acondition that it is liable to crumble under pressure, so that a firmseating would not be provided for the outer collar of my said priordevice,

and "in this connection, a further object of my invention is to providea construction embodyin the features of my said prior device in w ichthe necessity of having the outer clamp member bear on the plaster maybe avoided and suitable means may be provided for holdin the outlet box,or fixture support, in the esired position with. relation to the plastersurface and for permitting repair of the plaster about the wall opening.

I accomplish these objects by providing a form of clamp which is adaptedto seat directly on the outer side of the laths, about the wall openinfrom which the plaster has been remove which is adapted to support theoutlet box, or fixture support in ig. 3 plan view from the lath side ofthe.

wall.

F-i 4 and 5 are respectivel sectional views on lines 44 and 5-5 0 Fig.3,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the outer side of the outer clamp member.

till

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the outer end of the box.

In. preparation for the reception of my present construction, arectangular shaped opening is formed through the lath and plaster wallwhich is adapted to permit the box to be inserted freely therein, asection being preferably cut from one lath which is of slightly greaterlength than the width of the box. If the length of the box is greaterthan the distance between the adjacent edges of the laths, at oppositesides of the one from which the section was removed, recesses will becut into said adjacent laths into which the end portions of the box willextend, as shown in Fig. 3, and recesses-will also be cut to receive thecollar connecting screws.

After cutting the opening through the plaster a and laths' b, theplaster about the edge of the opening is removed for a distance, inpractice, of about iof an inch from the edge of the opening I) in thelaths, so that the outer surface of the laths about said opening isexposed, forming a seat 6 for the outer clamp member, as hereinafterdescribed.

In the present instance the box 1 is made approximately rectangular in'cross section, except that its width is somewhat greater at its middleportion than at its ends, so that the sides are slightly convextransversely, as shown, and the corner formedby the shorter sides andbottom is preferably rounded or beveled to provide oblique portions inwhich the usual knockouts 1 are formed, through which the armoredconductors may be passed. The longer sides of the box are slightlyflared at its open end to provide supporting lips I" for the purpose tobe explained, and ears 1 are formed integrally therewith at each end.

A flat sheet metal'inner clamp collar 2 is provided, having an opening2* therein; adapted to register with the opening b in the laths and toreceive the box, the width and length of said lcollar being such that,when itv is in position on the back side of the laths, it will overliethe same to a sufficient extent tof pjrovide the necessary supportingsurface.

Projecting flanges or lips 2 are formed on the collar, at each end ofthe opening, which are adapted to engage the edges of the uncut laths.Screw threaded holes 2 are also formed in the collar, at its ends and inositions somewhat to one side of the middle ine thereof, in which theclamping screws 3 are adapted to be threaded. The sheet metal outerclamp collar 4 is similar in outline-to the inner collar 2 and itsopening is ;uted to register with the opening therein. Flanges 4 areformed on the collar 4 at both of the longer sides of its opening, saidflanges extending outwardly therefrom nearly to the plane of the plastersurface, when the collar is in position, and being flared away from theopening to provide on the inner sides thereof a seat for the box at itsouter end, and, at the outer sides thereof, under cut plaster retainingflanges, as hereinafter described.

The end portions of the collar 4 are provided with slotted holes 4adapted to receive the screws 3 and located in position to register withthe holes 2 in collar 2- and they are also provided with screw threadedholes 4, which are arranged at one side of the middle line thereof.

The ears 1 of the box are provided with screw holes 1 arranged inposition to register with the holes 4 of the collar 4, so that the boxmay be attached to the collar by screws 5. The ears 1 are formed bybending a small edge portion of the box outward at such a point thatthey seat on the collar 4, while the box is seated at its sides on theflanges 4 thereof.

When the fitting is installed, a screw 3 is preferably threaded into thecollar 2, at one end, and the collar is passed flatw'ise, with theopposite end first, through the opening and then it is placed inposition, so that its flanges 2 extend into the opening and hold thecollar from vertical displacement in a side wall. While thus held, thecollar 4 is placed in position by passing it edgewise so that the screw3 is passed into the slot 4 and, when in position, the screw istightened and then the other screw 3 is inserted and tightened, so thatthe collars are then clamped I against opposite sides of the lathe, thecollar 4 seating directly on the laths. The armored conductor may thenbe fished through the collars and inserted in the box 1, and clampedtherein b suitable means, after whic the box will lie inserted in thecollars so that its sides seat on the flanges 4 It may then be securelyattached to the collars by the screws 5. The space between the plasterand the flanges 4*- is then filled with plaster of Paris 6 in plasticstate, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, so that its surface is flushwith plaster.

The parts are so constructed that, with plaster of ordinary thickness,the end of the ox Wlll be ap roximately flush with the surface of the paster a, but under no condition will project be 0nd the laster' surface,so that when t e wall pate of the Elexit filling, indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 1, is attached, it will bear on the plaslllB a clampcomprising an inner and an outer collar adapted to engage the oppositesides of the laths about the opening and having connecting means forholding the same in clamping engagement therewith, a box adapted tobeinserted in said collars means carried with the outer collar forpositioning the box with its outer end approximately flush with theplaster surface and means for attaching the box to said outer collar.,

2. An electric installation outletfor a lath and plaster wall comprisingan inner collar ada ted to seat on the inner side of the laths'a out anopening therein, an outer collar. adapted to seat on the outer side ofthe laths about said opening and having outwardly projecting,plaster-retaining flanges at opposite edges of its opening, means forclamping said collars together against the laths, an outlet box andmeans for attaching the same to said collars.

3. An electric installation outlet for a lath and plaster wallcomprising an inner collar adapted to seat on the inner side of thelaths about an opening therein, an outer collar adapted to seat on theouter sides of the laths about said opening and having outwardly anddivergently projecting, plasterretaining flanges at opposite edges ofitsopening, means for clamping said collars together against the laths, anoutlet box and means for attaching the same to collars.

4. An electric installation outlet for a lath laths, a box adapted to beinserted in said collars and provided with a surface to seat on saidflanges and to be sustained thereby with the outer end of said boxadjacent the plaster surface, and means for attaching the box to saidclamps.

5. In combination with a lath and plaster wall having an openingtherethrough and having'the plaster recessed about the open- 'ing in thelaths, to expose the front side thereof adjacent the opening, an innerand an outer collar respectively engaged with back and front side of thelaths about its opening and having means for clamping the lathstherebetween, said outer collar having outwardly projecting,plaster-retaining flanges, a box disposed in said collars, positioningmeans to locate thebox with its outer end a proximately at the levelofthe plaster surtace, and means for removably attaching the box to saidouter collar.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN .J. MERRILL.

